Browsing by Author "Andargie, Abebaw"

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    EFL Learners' Attitude towards Group Work: The Case of High and Low Achievers
    (AAU, 2011-06) Andargie, Abebaw; Hailu, Alemu (Phd)
    The study sought to describe and compare high and low academic achiever students' attitude towards group work, It has used samples of grade 12 students from Belay Zeleke preparatory school. Sixty sample students were selected from ten sections through purposive sampling technique so that there were thi rty high achiever and thirty low achiever students for this study. ' To achieve the intended goal, the study has used descripti ve-comparative study design and qualitative & quantitative data gathering methods. Kouros & Abrami's (2006) questionnaire was employed with important modifications. The modified self-report questionnaire with 29- items administered to all sample students. In addition, interview was used with 10 high and low achiever learners. Data obtai ned through the questionnaire were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version-l3. The descriptive stati stics such as mean values, standard deviations, and Independent T-test were considered in the di scussion. During the di scussion, data obtained through the self report questionnaire were deeply analyzed together with the data obtained through interview. Results of the study revealed that both group of high and low achiever students have a favorable attitude towards group work and no significant difference was found in their attitude. Based on the data gained it is concluded that academic achievement level does not play any significant role in differentiating learners' attitude towards group work. Since the students do not vary in terms of their group work attitude based on the level of their achievement, it is recommended that teachers of English should incorporate group work activities in their teaching strategies by taking all necessary preparations. Students must also provide input in designing group work like group size, group composition, the time needed, and other related things.
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    Evaluation of Physicochemical Characteristics of Locally Produced and Commonly Imported Edible Oils in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    (Addis Abeba University, 2012-06) Andargie, Abebaw; Dr. Seyifu, Daniel
    Background: Fats and oils are a heterogeneous group of predominantly hydrophobic compounds. Although many plant parts may yield oil in commercial practice, oil is extracted primarily from seeds mainly using solvent extraction. Edible oils sold in Addis Ababa are mainly imported from Asian countries while others are locally produced. The quality of edible oil is a measure of identity and edibility and it is determined by analysis of physicochemical characteristics of edible oils following standard procedures. Aims of the study: The aim of this study is to assess the physicochemical characteristics of commonly imported and locally produced edible oils. Methods and materials: A total of 16 samples (12 locally produced and 4 commonly imported edible oil samples) were collected randomly in local markets. All samples were taken immediately to the laboratory and stored at room temperature until analyses were completed. The physicochemical properties, physical parameters like refractive index (RI), specific gravity (SG)and relative viscosity (RV)and chemical parameters like iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV), saponification value (SV), acid value (AV), Free fatty acid contents (FFAs)and insoluble impurities (IIM)were assessed using standard procedures. Results: Most of the physical characteristics of imported edible oils are within the recommended values. Palm oils have significantly the lowest mean IV of all. Mean IV of Chief Brand palm oil is below the WHO recommended value while mean IV of Reinna Brand palm, rape seed and niger seed oils are higher than the recommended value. The mean SV of line seed, niger seed and cotton seed oils are higher than the recommended values. The mean PV of rape seed oil is higher than ESA (Ethiopian Standard Agency)recommended values. The mean AV of locally produced edible oils are higher than the ESA recommended values except cotton seed oil while mean AV of imported edible oils fall in the recommended value. The mean IIM values of locally produced oils exceed more than ten times than the Ethiopian standards recommended value while the imported oils of mean IIM values are very close to the maximum recommended value. Conclusion: Commonly imported edible oils have relatively better physicochemical characteristics than locally produced edible oils.